Monday, June 21, 2010

More than a Fortnight

Summary of the past three weeks, and a summary sentence Weeks 80-82

Week 80 (May 31 - June 4)
Monday - Holiday (No commute)
Tues-Thurs - Bicycle
Friday - Vacation (No commute)

My original plan was to ride from the south end of the cities to Nora Springs, IA, but I took a look at Friday's forecast on Thursday night and it did not look amendable to spending 10+ hours on a bicycle. Plans were canceled; nevertheless, Friday's conditions proved ideal for such a ride.

Week 81
Vacation/Conference

I did not attend the "Bike Walk to Work Day" celebration in downtown Minneapolis as I was in Chicago at a conference. I did, however, participate in spirit as I walked to the conference from my hotel.

Week 82
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM carpool)
Wed-Thurs - Bicycle
Friday - Car

I availed myself of the Minneapolis bike share program by grabbing a green machine at the government plaza station and riding to Birchwood Cafe, where I hopped off and hoofed it a mile and half home. Not ideal for an every day commute, but good in a pinch. I'll report more on the Nice Ride bikeshare program once I've had an opportunity to use it a bit more.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Miscellaneous Notes: St Paul morning ride

From this morning:

1) The round-trip ride to/from St. Paul always feels up hill both ways to me. Not sure if old age or the headwind is to blame for that cogderly observation.

2) The irony of a half-white/half-primer gray colored el camino parked in a Summit Avenue driveway was not lost on me.

3) Though not as obscene as the bandana/necktie combination, I think smoking and riding is an equally incongruous union.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Trucker Love Thursday

After near perfect weather for my ride in, I got to park my bicycle next to another Long Haul Trucker that I've mentioned before. I just hope I try unlocking the right bike this afternoon. I guess the Minneapolis Bike Love spoke card is an obvious identifier.